Deep-Clean in 3 Easy Steps

Walls, Floors, & Cabinets

Walls

Step 1: First see Before You Clean Your Walls. Fill a bucket with lukewarm water to clean your sponge as you work. In a spray bottle, mix 20 ounces of water and a tablespoon of Woolite or dishwashing liquid, suggests Allen Rathey, president of Housekeepingchannel.com. 

Step 2: Working in sections and wiping off drips as you go, spritz on the solution and let it sit for five minutes. “Use less product, but give it time to work so there’s less work for you,” says Rathey.
 Step 3: Wipe each section with a clean, damp sponge. Rinse and wring out the sponge periodically so you don’t spread dirty water back onto the clean wall.

Wood Floors

Step 1: Vacuum or dry-mop wood floors at least once a week (some experts say every other day). The longer dust and dirt sit on the wax or finish, the more dulling and scratching will occur.
 Step 2: When spills or scuffs appear on polyurethaned floors, use a slightly damp mop or sponge to lift them. If they’re stubborn, use a bit of the cleaner the floor manufacturer recommends to break them down.
 Step 3: When the floor begins to look scratched or dull, call in the professionals to do one of two things: scuff-sand and recoat the finish, or sand and completely refinish the floor.
 
 

Cabinets

Step 1: Empty cabinets and give the interiors a thorough dusting with a microfiber or electrostatic cloth. Press it into corners, under ridges, and along door edges.
 Step 2: With a solution of dish soap and warm water and a damp sponge, clean the bottoms, tops, and walls. Rinse the sponge in clean water as you go. Dry with a clean towel or rag as you work.
 Step 3: Consider an idea from British TV's Aggie MacKenzie of How Clean Is Your House?: Store muffin tins, woks, and other rarely used items in plastic bags so you won't have to rinse dust off the next time you use them.